With Just 13 Games Under his Belt, Michael McGreevy Looks more like the Staff Ace than the Top Pitching Prospect
Michael McGreevy is settling into the St. Louis Cardinals’ rotation like he was born for it, and Tuesday night in Miami was the latest example. The 25-year-old right-hander tossed six steady innings to guide the Cardinals to a 7-4 victory over the Marlins. Thus keeping their hopes of a sweep alive and pushing them one game shy of .500 on the season. He looks more like the staff ace than the top pitching prospect despite only having 13 games under his belt.
McGreevy (5-2) has been a picture of consistency in August, completing six innings in every one of his starts this month. Against Miami, he gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits, struck out five, and didn’t issue a single walk. He leaned heavily on his fastball and sinker across 80 pitches, pounding the zone and trusting his defense behind him. Other than one errant throw to third that cost him an unearned run, he kept his composure and looked every bit like a pitcher ready to claim a long-term spot in the Cardinals’ starting rotation.
Cardinals Bats were Productive
The St. Louis bats did their part early. Iván Herrera set the tone with an RBI single in the first inning. He then drove in two more in the second to put the Cards up 3-0 before Miami could blink.
Thomas Saggese was a spark plug all night, going 3-for-4 with a sac fly in what was just his second career three-hit game. Meanwhile, Lars Nootbaar and Willson Contreras chipped in with two hits apiece, fueling an offense that’s quietly racked up 22 hits over the first two games of this series.
“We used the whole field, we stayed within ourselves, and it paid off,” manager Oli Marmol said afterward, proud of his team’s balance at the plate.
The Bullpen Came to Play
The bullpen slammed the door once McGreevy handed it over. Matt Svanson and JoJo Romero tossed clean innings before Riley O’Brien walked into some drama in the ninth—two free passes to start the frame—but came storming back with two strikeouts and a game-ending groundout to lock down his second save of the season.
For the Cardinals, now sitting at 63-64, this wasn’t just another win—it was momentum. They’ve taken the first two games in Miami and will be hunting their first sweep since late June when they close out the series on Wednesday.
“It’s so much fun to win and build momentum,” said Saggese. “That’s why you play.”
And for Michael McGreevy, it’s more proof that the opportunity the Cardinals handed him in July wasn’t too big for him. Each start has been another step forward, another chance to show that this rotation has found a reliable young arm it can trust not just in August, but for the seasons ahead.
